Death by Photography: A Kevin Carter Case Study

[Pi3C35]

I read some comments online that the Sudanese girl in the picture was actually pooing. Can anyone confirm or deny that claim with evidence?

[sanzibar76]

Stop protecting this luceferian scum! He chose the child because it was alone.. Read why he got a Pulitzer, and if you know about his kind of journalism, than he should not have received it because he said he did not want to ruin the journalistic approach to his photography. You take up for the scum, why else do you think he won a million dollars as prize, read more about this asshole.. IM DONE......

[ieeen]

@sanzibar76 i have read a book The bang bang club wrote by silva and what u are talking about is not certain. He describe IN BOOK that many mothers has had left their children to get food. But Silva never refer that this child has been in same situation. That was one of possibilities. And Silva dont really know what happend with her. BTW this guy who claim he had an interview with SIlva is that a joke ? i could not find a single one good sours for it.People just copy/paist same text. its a joke.

[xAxCALVARYxMISFITx]

kevin was truely a master mind..his art was twisted but it spoke to the soul..he was and forever will be the best photographer..r.i.p dearst friend..you are forever gonna be my inspiration

[sanzibar76]

I say staged because i vacationed in the country with my mother, we saw buzzards all the time. If u walk up on them they fly away. Jesus people, a pulitzer for this?

[sanzibar76]

This pic was staged. Just for money. Someone asked him to take picture for the sick elite in this country. Who leaves a defenseless child to be eaten by a buzzard after they take a pic. I don't buy it. He was from South Africa by way of europe. hmmmm

[lapmarty]

@sanzibar76 actually teh story is simpler,the parent of the child were just on the side, awaiting food from the red cross, he didnt let her to dye or stage anything, the child isnt a girl but a boy he survive and died 14 years later, againt one good exemple on how people dont go seek the information, and beleive urban legend,

[ieeen]

@lapmarty where did u get this information? i am writing an dissertatnion about it i would use that kind of info.

[lapmarty]

@ieeen it on the web on several source i dont remember the exact one, try wiki, first and they probably got the reference

[sanzibar76]

my kids risked their life saving five children in an apartment where they were left alone. They didn't think of their lives, their future prosperity, they wanted nothing.

I hate to say it but i think this picture was staged. He was a loser in his career, god bless the dead. Is this the only way he could make a buck. Wow

[sanzibar76]

HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. THIS IS COMMON IN AFRICA. HE SHOULD OF PUT THE CAMERA DOWN AND HELPED. ISNT IT BETTER TO SAVE A LIFE THAN TO TAKE A PICTURE OF BIRD WAITING FOR A I DONT BUY IT, HE IS SOUTH AFRICAN BY WAY OF EUROPE. SICK, EVIL, you finish it.

[staboi]

Sure its easy to judge , I wasnt there, and the girl may have been too far gone, bujt im sorry . . . . . . . . . This man did some amazing things, this was not one of them ( I am completely aware of how the picture may have communicated the despair in Sudan the rest of the world, that does not give him a free pass)

[lee3nfi3ld460]

@staboi oh no? so lets say he helps the kid...dose not get the picture.. the kid would die in a few days and this picture would not have been released and inspired people to go and help..i guarantee this picture indirectly helped save hundreds if not thousands of lives..

[sanzibar76]

@lee3nfi3ld460 African says thanx for the help, the starvation and the bombs!!!!

[staboi]

Lets forget about morality, how about, how easy it would of been to help her to a food station. On "this" specific subject i do not feel sorrow for him, I will not praise him for the shot, I will not entertain a dialogue of perceptions, "Job?", as far as his regret and hauntings , he made a choice

[J88Wolf]

Kevin WANTED to help the little girl but due to the restrictions he himself could not do a thing, he left to get help but when he came back, she was gone.

[Guiv7]

I swear why couldnt the man just take the stupid photo and run to help the girl. He could of saved her brought her water some food. This man is a absolute monster an absentee landlord honor him never! This is a man who forgot the thin line between telling a story and being a human being. We all know the world is not perfect and I respect those who go out to show us that fact but in this case the man who is trying to show us the monsters who live among us became one himself.

[J88Wolf]

@Guiv7 He did! HE HIMSELF couldn't do anything because he would risk getting deported or something & THAT would make him utterly USELESS. He ran 2 get help but when he came back she was gone. He did his absolute best 2 help everyone within his boundries but sometimes that just wasn't enough. Kevin saw the WORST of mankind and tried his hardest 2 make things right & (more than likely) put a TERRIBLE toll on his mind & he couldn't take it. I'd advise u 2 delete your comment before u get hated on.

[Guiv7]

@J88Wolf Personally I dont care if I get hated on or not its my opinion on this situation and allow me to say man if I was in his position my heart would not allow me to leave her there. I wouldnt have minded facing the consequences and I am almost certain that if Kevin could go back he wouldnt have done what he did and he would have saved her life.

[Birdhy]

Vão todos pastar com as vossas mentalidades desumanas, se tentarem por um minuto que seja imaginar que podia ser um filho vosso ali, ou alguém que amem muito o que faziam. Eu ainda sou mais parva que vocês todos juntos porque não vão perceber nada do que eu digo, mas pelo menos desabafo a minha indignação cá para fora.

[Birdhy]

Eu não quero saber o que voces todos seus idiotas pari dizem, foi-lhe dito para não se aproximar, pois ele quebrava a regra iam fazer o quê prende-lo por ajudar uma criança. Podia ter tirado a foto e ajudado a menina á mesma. Se ela ia morrer á mesma, ok podia acotecer, mas ao menos lutava-se um pouco por isso não acontecer e se fosse inevitável pelo menos morria com mais conforto e talvez um pouco de carinho. Mas não voces seus idiotas, ah ele fazia o trabalho dele ele fazia o trabalho dele.

[yowurstnitmare]

he did the right thing by taking the photo as it made people aware. but he was personally haunted because after taking the photo he did not help. that was what he regretted and part of the reason why he committed suicide.

[Batso17x]

We are so lucky that he was there and took that photo so we could see it. As the messenger, it's not his place to save the girl - it's ours... It's his responsibility to ensure that he can continue to do that.

[meowwwrrr]

he was a photographer doing his job. heart's got nothing to do with it. he did the right thing.

[THEBOXISMINE]

Wish my pictures will some day be as good as his.

[Haplesshiccuper]

whats wrong with people.aren't you paying attention to whats being said in the video.He was told NOT to touch or become involved with thepeople ,twenty people an hour were dying why didn't he help any of them,What was he to do go against what the officials advised pick the child up,carry her a kilometre to the feedstation,for one meal.Where were the childs family?You don't know do you?She could be safe.He did his job,AWARENESS.The real question is,DID ANY OF YOU HELP THE LITTLE GIRL?????

[sweetbiella]

@Haplesshiccuper you can't just ask "did any of you help the little girl?" it's not like WE were there when she was about to die

[putdownan8dude]

"don't touch the children" nice out.

[dontbecutk]

He could not take the baby they told him not to touch any because they said they had diseases R.I.P Kevin Carter.

[kumitetom]

if he did not take the photo. and kill himself. all the people who have watched this video would not know about it. and maybe a few people will help 10 Africans. i think its good that he took the photo.

[oystersdontbleed]

The thing is, he snapped the photo within a minute of stepping into the press helicopter to leave. He had already participated in helping the food station. The proximity of other people to the child cannot be assessed since the photoframe ends only a foot and a half from the child.

[MrSimned]

@oystersdontbleed Not quite true after he took the shot and chased to vultureaway he sat under a tree and cried, but i wouldn,t dare judge him though.

[nzingha1]

He could've picked up the child...after taking the picture!!!!!!!

[Alexkitty15]

@nzingha1

he was told specifically not to touch any of the children. And in that situation, I'd be too horrified and sickened to even move. It's brave that he even went up to shoo the vulture away before he left. I wouldn't have been strong enough to go anywhere, to go back to the plane. I just wouldn't.

[roger6060]

Let's face the facts, he was a very troubled man from a early age.

He tried killing himself ten years earlier, when he lost his job.

I believe alot of what he saw later in life just contibuted to him finally finishing the job of killing himself.

[superCatia]

This is a good picture indeed, and it helped to make conscience about the brutal situation in Sudan. And I saw in tv that kevin helped the girl after taking the picture.

[playerism33]

They should have let the dude do the talking on this video, the girls had annoying voices

[gutterchk]

The world is a wonderful place? His words are worth nothing the matter is complicated and must be dealt with people who know the subject. The war correspondent has a tough job.

[gutterchk]

You defending an ethic that some parts of the world simply does not exist, In the war there are only misery, death and pain. The problem is not with journalists, photographers or cameramen. The problem is the world's indifference to the misery of others, the reports of correspondents teach a world that nobody wants to see, but that is how live every day others humans.

[gutterchk]

You do not know what is work in a conflict country and is unfair to criticize, while you just opened his book of ethics and is seated in a comfortable place. You as a student what to do is to learn, when you are in a war, your classes of ethics are rubbish. The war forever is one injustice and unethical, why not say anything about that?

[saba92]

so sad

[fashionfashionsuper]

I'm so disturbed of the fact that he didn't helped the kid just a kilometer away in the sudan famine picture, who said that photographers cant help their models, of course they can after they'd taken the shot, he should've help the kid, its the right thing! He could've even have a better awards and Oprah could've called him if he helped that kid. Yes, you are not allowed to touch your models before and during you're taking the picture. conscience.

[Shinigami232]

sorry for the wrong spellings... its necessary for the statement to fit in....

[Shinigami232]

dnt you knw dat wht kevin did, letting d whole wrld see the pic and mde dem aware of d very dsturbing poverty is greatr dan helping dat helpless child?if he helped d child, he could have only helpd 1 prson but wat about d others who suffers as d child did or more dan it? by shwing d wrld d pverty experiencd by dat child, d wrld responded greatly to it & did things dat gave hope to these pipol.thru it he didnt only helped d child but also d countless people who also suffers pverty. thnk about it.

[gummyboots]

@Shinigami232 he left after he took the picture, he didnt think "Hey Now that im down with this picture that took 20+ minutes, maybe I should take this kid with me"

[Shinigami232]

@gummyboots

do you even know what are the things that made him act that way?

another thing, im saying this again, im not saying that its good not helping the child but what im trying to say is that he did something greater than helping a single person... his action still produced a good result.. he could have taken the child but there are also things that he wants to protect...

[Alexkitty15]

@gummyboots



[50BurntIncenseSticks]

@Shinigami232 Please learn to Type. Pleese Lrn to tipe.

[Shinigami232]

@50BurntIncenseSticks

i do know how to type dude.... please read the previous comments where i said that i only made it that way in order for the whole message to fit... now, learn to read before you type...

[bscs2a]

he hesitated to help the child because one of his companion told him that don't touch the child because she might have a sick...

[agroni1999]

Having deeply compassion for Kavin, I ask myself why he didn't tried to gave hand to her ???!!!

[gonetowin]

Melissa, Eric, Tiffany and Eric have never been in the field yet. Their world will change, their views will change, even their voices will change when they come back. They just need to live a little longer.

[meatypaw101]

see don mc cullins pic of starving albino biafrian,read his book and see how the press were manipulated to further the goals of people without any humanity at all.

most of all don says"30 years of photographing wars"

"and it did,nt achive a thing!"

i,ll take sports photography any day!

[lesterann63]

Thank you Melissa, Eric K., Tiffany, and Eric T. You created a very powerful and thought provoking video on a subject that always incites controversy and emotion.

[Pinkribbonscars]

Thank you for posting this. Thought provoking.

[coboi1985]

stop being a racist milkmandan77

[milkmandan77]

these narrators sound like a bunch of snobby, rich, wannabe enlightened starbucks-drinking poetry jam-listening obama-fucking liberal arts major dave matthews fans at a gay-friendly college in new england

fucking stupid, i hope you failed your dumbass project. please sterilize yourselves so you don't pass on your pissant genes.

[miguelon918]

Some people just dont understand Kevin,you can say that he was bad that he was a sick man,but the truth is that the world needs people who are cruel enough to make us see that the world isnt pretty, yes it does looks fine because we are just sitting here watching pretty videos on YT but there is a whole different world out there, for some this is hell itself and that sad reality was what kevin was trying to show us,was he cold hearted with the kid,of course but there is a whole history behind..

[chanlately]

judging from these comments there is a hell of a lot more compassion for this Kevin person than for the starving black child in the video.i make racial reference b/c most of the comments' themes went "'those people' need to do for themselves and stop expecting hand outs"!

[Sharone326]

I am fascinated by Kevin Carters story. I cannot imagine the burden his soul was carrying and I refuse to judge. What I do know is that it's hard to want to save the world and right every wrong-impossible. I'm sure he could have done somethig in almost every situation he photographed,but I suppose the bigger question is "Would it solve the problem as a whole?". Would I have taken that child and run,yes. Would another child have died as I tended that one? Probably. I can't judge-only God knows.

[bunnasoo2]

There was much more to the story than he took this picture, felt bad then killed himself. He won the Pulitzer Prize for this picture which got him a big prestigious assignment; he lost the film on the way back and killed himself soon after that. Plus he was really messed up on some drug I'd never heard of but is big in South Africa. Reading interviews with his family and friends he was very complex and messed up yet decent human being who had seen horrors most of us can't even imagine.

[LittleXMissXLo]

As soon as I saw this picture I had to know the story behind it. Its such a sad story. Even though he was told not to touch the girl, it makes you wonder why he wouldnt keep an eye out for her or go ahead and let the people working at the center know about her. I guess he ultimately ended up probably asking himself the same questions. Hence why he commited suicide. This picture truly haunts you...

[chanlately]

why on earth would 'THEY' have Kevin take these pictures yet not involve themselves in  helping THE SUFFERING in ANY WAY POSSIBLE?!!! where is the logic?and who the hell are THEY?American/European journalists whose bottom line is money and controversy, shock value?the same MFs who have the power to feed&heal the world's needy but are too greedy.Kevin,may he rest peacefully,was one in a million white men who had a conscience where these deprived,robbed

black ppl were concerned...

[bertbretherton]

Thank you for posting this. It has certainly encouraged viewers to express polarised stances on the subject. I am sure his work has presented enough true images of the horror we inflict on innocents for his efforts to have been worthwhile. A picture is worth how many words?

[glanzbo]

Informative video good work.

[dundooley]

To all of you who are interested in the life of Kevin Carter, and who are looking for a great depiction of what photojournalists go through when they do what they do, read a book called "The Bang Bang Club". It gives a great illustration into the lives of Carter and a few other South African journalists during a very interesting period in world history (End of apartheid, atrocities in Kosovo, Somalia etc...). Really a great read!!

[emilytheorange]

to think he shoots good pics and he was a very handsome man..

[thekingofmuaythai666]

emilytheorange. Are you stupid??? he was a very sick man who enjoyed the suffering of the others and made pictures becouse he wanted to be above them... handsome!! you are not watching mtv, this is a very serius topic. Go to get a Bravo magazine and stop commenting about things that are understandable for you, Handsome!!! ignorant!!

[slackericeman]

your an idiot....don't ever bother speaking again...its a waste of your time

[slackericeman]

and that was for thekingofmuaytai666.....not for the videos producers.....this video is a great example for those questioning ethical and moral dilemmas

[chanlately]

WOW!do you believe what you are saying?!pls tell me

[bevscorner]

No one can know why he killed himself, but the speaker of this video represents him well, imo, when she states he acted compassionately toward the nation who suffered by shooting this photograph. I'm sorry for him, and for all who suffer alone to the point of death.

[funnygurl23]

i can't fuckin believe this..this man did something that ou ppl couldn't never accomplish and you sit her on youtube complain..he probably killed himself because of it..

[qwertycivfanru]

To all those people ridiculing him, what are you doing with your life? Have you exposed any bruatlities in the world? Have you gone to the ends of the world to explore and show life as it is? Amazing how ignorant people are. Shut up.

[XXXjoefitzXXX]

i pray to God i never become that detatched from my work

[eraserhead321]

Am I the only person who thinks that the toddler in the famous 'vulture' photograph could not have been saved anyway? It is very hard to bring back to health a person that far into starvation because the stomach shrinks, and you can't just feed them any old thing and they'll be back to eating healthily again. I think I'm right in this view anyway..

[sedatophobe369]

I greatly appreciate what I believe is a fair and justified presentation of Kevin Carter's dilemma. I am currently researching his life and work myself and this has been most helpful for gaining insight. Thank you.

[icantsing]

better to find out why we witness these horrors in our lifetime,the root to it all, than to discuss if mr carter was guilty or not..

[Birdhy]

Sexinay, and if that girl was you? in millions of people? we was a wick man, because a strong man it would have hapened the girl. yes he did exellent job. the error was after. please tell me how can a person look for something like that and do not help her. can somebody explain me, bacause my heart of mom doesn´t understand.

[thekingofmuaythai666]

Birdhy and my heart of human being does not understand as well.

[sexinay55]

its one girl in millions of people, he HELPED by documenting the little girl. I love him i think he did an excellent thing, and he must of been a strong person to be able to do this kind of photgraphy.

[basszack]

i don't give a DAMN what i was told!i could never just leave a child crawling towards a aid station without helping.just the thought that someone could do that literally makes me want to throw up.what is the worst that could have happened to him for helping and then he killed himself anyway.i hope he burns in hell for what he did.and anyone who sticks up for him SHAME ON YOU!

[alfredonike12]

I really agree with you she was a crawling-defense-less kid

[Dext37Fielding]

god what a shit review, the manics song explains it better than you american c*untwods...

[eraserhead321]

I disagree, the manics song has profound lyrics and powerful music, but this review fills in the gaps in a neat way for people that don't know the details in a friendly, non-condescending way.

[Teddyboy79]

Outstanding study about Kevin Carter's life. Well done.

[larrythelamb72]

Its about how he can resist helping the girl after the shot was taken

[basscasey]

can anyone tell me where i can find the new short fil THE LIFE OF KEVIN CARTER?????

[Photoschangetheworld]

Its what we do, to not take that photo would be to not do the job. We are there to record, to document, if we don't document everything, then whats the point? How do people trust us then?

[basszack]

the photo should have been taken to show the hell they were living in but to not help a defenseless child is unforgivable.your total lack of mention of the child he left to die, unfortunately speaks volumes about what kind of person you are.imagine what that child was going through.just think about it and imagine it was your kid.

[Photoschangetheworld]

Do you know what kind of person kevin carter was? What he saw during his life as a photographer, the guilt he felt when his friend ken was shot by peace keeping troops, how he believed the bullit was for him. He did not leave the child to die. Are you a professional photographer? Have you seen people die infront of you? Don't try to talk about things you don't know, you will never know what we go through. What we have to do. Yes we choose this life, I did it to try to make a difference.

[basszack]

well it said that he just left her there and that is why he killed himself and unfortunately yes i have seen several people die and yes i tried to help all but one of them because the other guy that was there was a doctor but i did go for help.

[Photoschangetheworld]

he did not just leave her there. He firstl chased away the vulure nad then the child got the strenght to get up and walk to the feeding center which was only 200 feet infront. He killed himself cause his life was falling apart due to drink, drugs, and splitting from his ex, and his best friend dying. A friend of his gary bernard killed himself, he also photographed with him. Theres very little point arguing with you, you'll never understand.

[Shinigami232]

please teach yourself to be open minded asshole... your making the wrong inference on him... you only see the bad thing and you take for granted what are the good things he had done... grow up you dumb shit head..

[basszack]

well if by opened minded you mean to leave a child to die i will pass.thanks anyway.

[Shinigami232]

you really dont know how to look at things dude... if kevin helped the child at the very sight of seeing her, he wouldnt have the chance to take the picture that changed the whole worlds view of poverty and let the world see the devastating power of poverty in these people....

that picture has generated a lot of helps and great responses from the people around the world...!! meaning helping others who also suffers from poverty...

[Shinigami232]

another thing is that kevin really cared for that child, the thing is that people were saying not to touch these children because they have some kind of contagious desease....

and that thing made him hisitant...

if you were on his place, could you touch the child? im afraid not... i think you would even run at the sight... ehhh???

think again dude...

you should search and read things about him.... it might enlighten you...

[basszack]

he needed to take the picture but leaving her there?i would take the chance of getting the desease because i couldn't leave a child to suffer like that and anyone who could is a monster.i guess not being able to walk away from a suffering child means i am not enlightend and if that is the case i am proud of that quality.

[Shinigami232]

owwsssssss???

do you know whats that called in psychology?

Its called unrealistic optism.....

and let me ask you something dude.... if you really cared for these people... you should have visit them and do things in any means that can help them.... i think your only a man of unrealistic words... your not acting on it.... maybe if you go to poor countries and do some charitable works it may convince me.... ehhh???

[basszack]

i care about all people and there are plenty here in our country that need help and i couldn't care less about convincing you of anything i know who i am and what have done and continue to do.i do find it sad that you found anything i said unrealistic but maybe after you have kids of your own and find a deeper conviction to helpers you will understand.i wish you the best.

[staszekgobi]

and shinigami232 if that was your daughter would you be equally busy quoting good old psychology? some of us have gone to 3rd world countries and speaking of reality i just pray that a person like you will never be in a position to decide ethical dilemma that one faces when confronted with little people who just go to sleep in your arms and never wake up; I find your ignorance offensive.

what did you call it? unrealistic optimism? great line but what is wrong with you?!?

[Shinigami232]

my daughter?! what kind of example is that?!

do you know what are we arguing?! your too dumb to sneak in our argument without understanding it much... the main concept that we argued is that he shouldnt be criticized cause there are many external factors that affect his action.. he shouldnt be blamed cause on the other hand his pic made alot of contribution to the poors..

you mean to 3rd world countries? oh shit! do you think you are the one who experienced to see those kind of people?!!!?

[Shinigami232]

speaking of ignorance... you one sided creature shouldnt comment dumb arguments here... it only shames yourself.. tsk tsk...

your only looking at things in one angle and thats an example of true ignorance...

you get it dude??!! it might take your tiny brain to process it...

[staszekgobi]

so it is not about sneaking in it is about me posting my views and last time I checked it is the right thing to do. I have great respect for carter because he consciously subjected himself to work in an environment that goes beyond what you and I will ever comprehend but having said that not assisting the little person was wrong and months after he took that picture he himself understood his deficiency in compassion (why do you think he committed suicide?).

[Shinigami232]

do you really know kevin carter? it seems that your assuming that hes only depressed because of the sudanese girl... your thinking narrowly again dude... hes got many problems and those are the factors that made him commit suicide.. think about it.. hemm???

[staszekgobi]

You talk about the importance of taking that picture and I am there with you; I do comprehend the impact it had on people all over the world but you can take a picture and accomplish all that he did and still help the little girl. I think that a lot of people are in opposition to your views because whether you agree or not one of the important elements of being a human being is to have compassion and that is where carter failed.

[staszekgobi]

And yes I spent a lot of time with people in 3rd world countries where children die daily in front of your eyes because there is no support system in place and there is nothing you can do to help. So some of us come back to our countries and we deal with politicians and media and at the end you feel like you failed because people here dont want to understand that little people shouldnt die because they dont have water or food

[Shinigami232]

if you too consistent in arguing that he should have helped the girl.why didnt you dedicate yourself in helping, supporting and making funds for the poor.???!!! since that you are too compassionate person??!! or it only means that your only a man who speaks without acting....

dont get me wrong dude cause im not trying to say that hes right in not helping that girl or he really should not helped her but what im trying to say is that what he did is something according to will and rational thinking

[Shinigami232]

remember dude... in this world... the word compassion is not the only basis of being human... you need all the time to think and judge over things that might affect your whole life.. and that what kevin did..

[staszekgobi]

the example of a daughter is a good one because it brings you to a point where you have to look at the world with better eyes and without having to be callous. As far as you guys having a debate well, any time you post your views on the net be ready to deal with other peoples posting their views based on what you are debating and if you dont like that then perhaps you should confine your debate/argument to a more reclusive location

[Shinigami232]

is it really a good example??!!! its a counter factual thinking and that kind of thinking is out of context in the very important concept which is called reality.... think about it... you should not always think in one side...

" to look at the world in better eyes"?

dude the world is not meant to be looked only in its bright side.. you should look at also at the bad sides.. in that way you gain more understanding about the world and its reality..